Vehicle wheel



19, 1952 A. T. FAULKNER 2,607,634

VEHIQCLE WHEEL Filed Oct. 11, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 l2 Z T] -4- 5 5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

. e ham Q 7 VEHICLE WHEEL. Arnold T. Fauikner, Buchanan, Mich. 7 Application 'October '11, 1948, serial No; 5,3;8-11

6 Claims.-

vThis invention relates to improvements in vehic'l'e wheel.

The principal .objects 'of this invention are:

Eirst,'to'provide a wheel for automotive trucks, rarmvehicms andtl'ie' like which is fabricated'at reduced cost 'fr'oms'tar'n'pe'd sheet rnetalpa'rts.

Second, to provide 'a vehicle wheel which provides adequate strength with a "minimum of weight.

Third, to reduce the s ze and host or diesrequired for 'formihg stamped sheet metal Vehicle wheels'by providing a wheel which. can be .asseinbled'froin aplurality of Small similar stampmgs.

ot er objects and advantages relating to de;

tails army wheel will be apparentfro'm a con sideration of the following description andjthe attached drawings. The invention is further pointed out in-the'clairns.

'The drawings of which there are two sheets illustrate two forms of myiwheel.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary end elevational' view of my wheel partially brokenaway in vertical cross section. i

Fig. 21is-a fragmentary-.plan'view of the edge of the wheel in partially assembled condition.

FigfS is afraignieiitary'longitudinal cross sectional "view through the wheel takenlalong the plane "indicated by line Ii-'3 inffFig. -1. 1

Fig.4 is a perspective View of one of'the stampings used to form"the spokes of the wheel.

Fig.5 i's'a fragmentary end levational View of a modified 'for'm of the wheel.

Fig. 6, is a fragmentary'longitudinal cross sectional view taken alongtheplanes indicated-by the brokeh line 6 6 in Fig. 5.

The firstform of my wheel illustratedin Figs. 11to 4 consists of a -hub [which may beof cast or forged construction and which is provided with an integral rear hubflange 2 projecting radially outwardly therefrom.

The h'b l is provided with suitable internal grooves 3Ifor receiving wheel bearings (not illustrated) and the front face of the'hub defines a series of tapped apertures 4 for receiving mounting bolts.

"The outer endof thehub l defines an external shoulder5 which forms an abutment for an annular o'uterhub plate 6 which is preferably of fiat sheet metal construction. The outer hub plate 6 is secured to and supports a plurality of spokes generally'i'ndicated at I. The spokes! each consist of apair'of sheet metal stampings having a side wall 8 with outer flanges 9 and inner flanges l-ilturned transversely 1 therefrom.

other.

'ends of the spokes.

2 The opposed edgesof :the'fianges'Q and 1.0 of each: spoke are welded' tog'ether as at H :toiorma spoke of hollow c'r'ossse'ction and :open at its inner .and outer ends.

As is most clearly illustrated in Fig. .4 each of the stampings-w-hich form the spokes 21 includes two side walls '8 whichare formed byrfolding a blank ofmeta'l into generally V-shape :so that the adjacent sidewalls diverge-radially from each The inner and outer flanges are turned transversely 'from eachof the side walls :8.

The radially innerends of the flanges "9 and lllextend approximately at right angles'from the sidewalls 8 so that when the-two side walls88 of a stampingare bent into divergingrel'ati onship the flanges are provided with'generally triangular I tabs 'IZ which project'radially inwardly' fromthe circiimferenceof the outer fiange B. The outer flanges S and theirtabs l2 are-lappedon the inner' side of outerfiange ii-so that the-periphery of the'fiange fiilies adjacent'to 'the fold between-the 3 side walls 8. The outer flanges 9 are'then welded as at 'l 3'- to the outer hub flange.

The inner flanges ['0 of the several spokes 7 are further -joined together by an annularring' l4 whichis welded to-the flanges as at I 5. The ring-l-A-extendsbetween the spokes "I and defines apertures for receiving-1 the mounting 'bolts l t which secure'tl'ie ring M and the remainder of" the wheel'to-the innerfiange '2-of the hub. The

bolts l sjmay'also secure a brake-drurn l'l'tothe wheel f p v l" The shape of the spokes [l niaybeof desired crosssectio'n and in-theexample illustrated;

the spokes are of generallyrectangular truncated conical cross section tapering 'toward the outer-- The tapered outer ends or thesp'okes are adapted-to .receive Jcastor :forged wheel' felly-sections 1 f8 :havi'ng truncated iconical bosses H! on their underside which are telescopically received withintheouteruendsofithe spokes. The-felly sections lii have inner abutment flanges 20 against which a demountable rim' may .;;be clamped. Tapped holes'Zl are provided .in :each felly section for receiving lug bolts to clamp the rirn to thefelly.

' The. modified form 0f wheel illustrated; in. Figs. 5 i andi fi consists. of a cast .or'iforge'd hub :22 :having a. separate .inner hubi flange 2 3' welded. thereto as at-Q12 4. The outerthuhflange 25 is ofstampedi. sheet fnetal constructionand isweldedto the'xhub as atqzs; The periphery of 'the flange- 25 is provided with an inwardly turnedcylindrical rim 2 7- against-which the several spokes i 8 areJseated.

The side walls 29 of each stamping are bent outwardly from a narrow arcuate center portion 39 which seats against the rim 21 and is secured thereto by welding as at 3|. The inner end flanges 32 of each stamping are turned transversely from the side walls 29 so that the inner flanges of adjacent stampings abut to form the inner end walls of a spoke. The outer end flanges 33 of each stamping are similarly turned transversely of the side walls 30 so as to abut and form the outer end wall of the spokes. As in the first form of the wheel the abutting flanges of the stampings are welded together as at 34. v r

The front flanges and front folds of the spokes in Figs. 5 and 6 are inclined longitudinally and radially outwardly of the wheel to provide a bulging front surface on the spoke and to provide a broader outer end for each spoke. The end walls of the spoke are recessed or notched in generally U-shaped notches 35 and the notches 35 receive the U-shaped inner sides of the stamped or castfelly sections 36. The felly sections 36 are welded to the edges of the notches as at 31 and are provided with inner abutment rims 38. An apertured plate 39 is welded within the U-section at the outer end of each felly section to receive a lug bolt.

In the form of the wheel illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the inner ends of thespokes 28 are permanently welded as at 49 to the inner hub flange 23 and the hub flange defines holes ll between the spokes for receiving bolts tosecure a brake 5 drum (not illustrated) to the wheel.

The radially inner ends of the outer end walls of the spokes are out along segments of a circle equal to the circumference of therim 2] so that the ends of the spokes rest upon the rim and are secured thereto by continuations of the weld 3|. 4

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that all of the elements of both forms of the wheel are of relatively small and simple size and shape so that they can be rapidly and economically produced. The stampings which form the spokes are identical in any one wheel and can be produced in a simple folding die as there is no necessity for drawing metal in the die or performing a second forming operation to provide a reentrant fold in any portion of the stamping. With suitable jigs, the several elements of the wheel can be quickly and accurately assembled to form a strong relatively light wheel. 7

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub member having inner and outer hub flanges welded there- =to, said outer hub flange having an inwardly turned rim of less diameter than the diameter of said inner hub flange, a plurality of spokes having their radial inner ends abutting against and welded to said rim and welded to said inner hub flange, each of said spokes consisting of a pair of sheet metal stampings of generally U-shaped cross section, the flanges of said stampings being abutted and welded to form the inner and outer walls of the spoke, each of said stampings including the side walls of two adjacent spokes joined by a short arcuate portion, the radially outer ends of the inner and outer walls of said spokes defining notches, and a stamped felly section having a generally U-shaped inner end received in and welded to the edges of said notches, saidfelly sec,-

,4 tions having a lug bolt receiving plate welded within the U-section thereof.

2. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub member having inner and outer hub flanges welded there- 5 to, said outer hub flange having an inwardly turned rim of less diameter than the diameter of said inner hub flange, a plurality of spokes having their radial inner ends abutting against and welded to said rim, each of said spokes consist- 10 ing of a pair of sheet metal stampings of genercent spokes, the radially outer ends of the inner and outer walls of said spokes defining notches, and a felly section having a generally U-shaped inner end received in and welded to the edges of said notches, said felly sections having a lug bolt receiving plate within the U-section thereof.

3. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub member having inner and outer hub flanges, said outer hub flange having an inwardly turned rim of less diameter than the diameter of said inner hub flange, a plurality of spokes having their radial inner ends abutting'against and welded to said rim, each of said spokes consisting of a pair of sheet metal stampings of generally U-shaped cross section, the flanges of said stampings being abutted and welded to form the inner and outer walls of the spoke, each of said stampings including the sidewalls of two adjacent spokes, the radially outer ends of the inner and outer walls of said spokes defining notches, and a felly sec tion having a generally U-shaped inner end received in and welded to the edges of said notches.

4; A vehicle wheel comprising a hub member having inner and outer hub flanges, said outer hub flange having an inwardly turned rim of less diameter than the diameter of said inner hub flange, a plurality of spokes having their radial inner ends abutting against and welded to said rim, each of said spokes consisting of a pair of sheet metal stampings of generally U-shaped cross section, the flanges of said stampings being abutted and, welded to form the inner and outer walls of the spoke, each of said stampings including the side walls of two adjacent spokes, and a felly section having an inner end received in and welded to the edges of said spoke. 5'. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub member having inner and outer hub flanges, said outer hub flange having an inwardly turned rim of less diameter than the diameter of said inner hub flange, and a plurality of spokes having their radial inner ends abutting against and welded to said rim, each of said spokes consisting of a pair of sheet metal stampings of generally U-shaped cross section, the flanges of said stampings being abutted and welded to form the inner and outer walls of a spoke, each of said stampings including the side walls of two adjacent spokes.

6. A sheet metal stamping for forming the spokes of a wheel, said stamping including angu ARNOLD T. FAULKNER.

( en s 01!. l win page) 5 REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the 1426881 file of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2:427:378 Number Name Date 2,553,161

1,071,684 Austin Sept. 2, 1913 1,220,768 Murray Mar. 27, 1917 1,274,930 Murray Aug. 6, 1918 Number 1,340,961 Lachman May 25,1920 10 1,071,684 1,393,795 Lachman Oct. 18, 1 1,

Name 4 Date Lachman Aug. 22, 1922 Parker Dec. 6, 1927 Reed June 14, 1932 Ash Sept. 16, 1940 Ash May 5, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Sept. 2, 1913 

